Symbolism

Chinese

Pronounced "JEN," this combines the picture for "human being" with the pair of horizontal strokes that denotes "two." The essential kindness that one person shows to another.

Clarity

Pronounced "CH'ING," means "clear, lucid and pure."The character is composed of two elements, "water" and the "color of nature." When water has clarity you see in it the color that nature gave it.

Courage

Pronounced "YING," is a "person" with arms spread wide to signify "an adult" standing alone in a "wide open space" thick with "grass" a wilderness signifies "courage," for he does not fear this place where wild animals roam.

Destiny

Pronounced "MING," in Chinese thought "destiny" refers not so much to a predetermined path in life as to the fact of death, which is the destiny of all life and the law of nature.

Path of the Heart

Essential virtue is an inborn quality. Follow the path of the true heart, and the true original nature of humankind.

Peace

Pronounced "P'ING," is a picture of a "bamboo stem" balanced on each side by a single tongue of "fire." The principle of balance between opposing forces.

Revelation

Pronounced "SHIH," is a stylized form of an ancient pictogram that showed three vertical lines of power or a light emanating from the two horizontal strokes that represent "heaven."

Reverence

Pronounced "CHUNG," the character for "ancestor" is placed below three peaks of a "mountain," reminding us to revere those who came before.

Spirit

Pronounced "SHEN," means "to divine" and "sign." Symbolizing the part of our soul, which enters at birth and ascends at death.

Faith ties the Heart

Beloved

Bone & Spirit

Balance

Bells: In the Chinese tradition bells were tied around the wrists and ankles of infants to protect them from evil spirits.

Red Thread: Was also propitious and said to ensure long life.

Sanskrit

"Aum" or "Om"

Literally means "yes, verily." Om is the "breath of life."The most sacred mantra of Hinduism, it is placed at the beginnings of most sacred writings.

Ahimsa "Noninjury" or "nonviolence"

Refraining from causing harm to others, physically, mentally or emotionally. Ahimsa is the first and most important of the yamas (restraints). It is the cardinal virtue upon which all others depend.

The mind is mantra

Commentary on the Siva Sutra 2.1by Swami Muktananda In this aphorism Parasiva gives us the secret of mantra: the mind of the aspirant who practices mantra is itself the mantra. By means of the mind we become aware of the supreme truth. It is with this mind that we repeat mantras, we contemplate their meaning, we come to know their essence and their goal.

The Lotus Flower "Padma"The Lotus Flower is the symbol of spiritual development. It is the symbol of the manifestation of beauty and mental purity (the ability to rise above) - for although it has its roots in the mud of ponds and lakes, it raises its flower in immaculate beauty above the surface of the water.

God is All in All

"Sarva Brahma"

Fearlessness

"Abhaya"

Peace

"Santi" or "shanti"

Patience

"Kshama"

Faith

"Astikya"

Wisdom

"Veda"

Merciful Compassion

"Krapalu," showing or giving mercy.

Devotion

"Bhakti"

Auspicious

"Shub" Success, prosperous, favorable."

MandalaThe Sanskrit word for "circle," a circle that is symbolically designed so it contains the meaning of a cosmic order.

Sanskrit / The Chakras

The Chakras are invisible energy centers of the body interfacing between the physical and subtle worlds. Chakras are centers of consciousness. They are positioned along the spinal cord from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

Muladhara Chakra (Base) Color: red.Center of survival and groundedness, the densest form of primal energy and the foundation of all human knowledge, located below the genitals.

Swadhisthana Chakra (Sacral) Color: orange Center of communication and sensitivity, it is the source of all emotional needs and the ability to respond to them, located above the genitals.

Manipura Chakra (Navel) Color: yellow. Center of energy discipline and endurance. This chakra gives us the ability to perform at high levels of physical and mental stamina, located near the navel.

Anahata Chakra (Heart) Color: green. Center of love, compassion and forgiveness, and hope, this is also the seat of the ego and center of self esteem, located middle of chest.

Vishuddi Chakra (Throat) Color: blue Center of creative expression and communication, personal identification and individual will are formed here, located in the throat.

Ajna Chakra (Third Eye) Color: indigo. Center of super consciousness and psychic intuitive senses, this insight transcends the five senses, time and space, located between the eyebrows.

Sahasrara Chakra (Crown) Color: all colors.ss Here enlightened ones abide in unity with the self. This is where the need to understand the completeness of life and the universe is formed. Self realization and enlightenment reside here, located above the crown of the head.

GaneshaThe Hindu god known as the remover of Obstacles.

"Asato Maa" (from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad) O Lord please lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. May there be peace, peace and perfect peace.

"Taittiriya Brahmana" (from the Taittiriya Brahmana) Fire is established in my speech. Speech in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. Air is established in my breath. My breath is in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. The sun established in my eyes. My eyes in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. The moon is established in my mind. My mind in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman.

That intellect which knows when to act and when not to act, what is to be done and what is not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, along with knowledge of the nature of bondage and liberation, O son of Prtha, is sattvic. (Bhagavad-Gita)

"Prabhujee" (written by Ravi Shankar) Oh Master, show some compassion on mePlease come and dwell in my heartBecause without you, it is painfully lonely Fill this empty pot with the nectar of loveI do not know any Tantra, Mantra, or ritualistic worship I know and believe only in you!I have been searching for you all over the world Please come and hold my hand now.

Tamil

Tamil is written in a beautiful syllabic script (called Grantha script) derived from the Brahmi script in which symbols stand in for syllables. Tamil is one of the Dravidian languages, a family of languages concentrated in southern India, Sri Lanka and certain areas of Pakistan, Nepal, and eastern and central India.

Sacred "Tiru"

Tibetan

"OM MANI PADME HUNG"The meaning of the Mantra by His Holiness the Dalai Lama:"Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by Hung, which indicates indivisibility...Thus together these syllables mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, mind into the pure exalted body, speech, mind of a Buddha."

The Four Immeasureables

Love "Maitri" A sincere wish for the welfare and genuine happiness of all living beings without exception.

Compassion "Karuna" The wish for all living beings to be free from suffering and from the cause of suffering.

Joy "Mudita" To be joyful in loving and having compassion for all beings. Joy is to rejoice in the happiness of others.

Equanimity "Upeksa" Equanimity is the ability to regard all living beings, whether they are close to us or whether they are far removed from us, free from attachment and aversion.

Tibetan Melong "The Mirror" The mirror represents consciousness and the element for space. Whatever appearances arise as reflections, be they beautiful or ugly, inherently good or evil, the mirror passes no judgment on them.

The Ritual BellThe hand-bell symbolizes the feminine principal in Tibetan rituals. Its sound is regarded as auspicious and is said to drive away evil spirits.

The Thousand Arms of CompassionThe bodhisattva of universal compassion.

The Eight Tibetan Symbols of Good Fortune

The ParasolA symbol of power representing the ability to arm oneself against the elements.

The Golden FishA symbol of good fortune indicating plenitude.

The Treasure VaseThe satisfaction of material wealth-storage- a sign of fulfillment of material wishes.

The LotusThe symbol of the manifestation of beauty and mental purity (the ability to rise above)-for although it has its roots in the mud of ponds and lakes, it raises its flower in immaculate beauty above the surface of the water.

The WheelThe wheel expresses completeness and perfection, as it has no beginning and no end.

The Right-Turning Conch ShellThe oldest ritual object-it has stood for femininity and as a musical offering-it has come to represent the fame of Buddhist teachings.

The Glorious Endless KnotA very auspicious symbol representing many things-in its most simplistic form, it represents a connection between the giver and the recipient-indicating the eternal connection of the past to the future. It is also representative of the infinite knowledge of the Buddha-all things in the present and future are tied to the past in the glorious endless knot.

The Victory SignA sign of victory over all disagreements, disharmonies and hindrances-a victory over ignorance and ultimately the attainment of happiness.

Universal

The CrossThe Cross is one of the oldest and most universal of all symbols. It appeared on Indian cave walls and in Egyptian tombs long before the birth of Christ. The Cross is said to protect against evil and is a source of strength and faith.

The HeartThe heart represents the most intimate central point of the human being, from where man communicates with other people and the Divine Beings. It is an emblem of love, friendship, intelligence and courage.

The Star of DavidThe six pointed Star of David, a hexagram, is the most common and universally recognized sign of Judaism originating from the Shield of David.

Crescent and StarThe ancient celestial symbols of the crescent moon and star represent celestial gods and goddesses, particularly those representing the Sky, the Moon, the Sun and Venus.

The SkullThe skull is a reminder that all things will pass, that there is wisdom in living in the face of such mortality, and, therefore, we should live fully and mindfully.